European Asylum and Migration Management Strategy
On 29 January, the European Commission (EC) presented the European Asylum and Migration Management Strategy which sets out the political priorities that will guide the EU’s actions in these areas over the next five years. The preparation of the Strategy was a...
Cypriot Presidency of the Council of the EU
The Cypriot Presidency of the Council of the EU (January-June 2026) comes at a pivotal moment in the ongoing reform of the EU’s policies in the areas of migration and asylum, culminating with the entry into action of the Pact on Migration and Asylum on 12 June....
OP-ED: Collaborating with the Taliban regime in the name of “administrative” matters?
By Mehdi Kassou I was deeply surprised, while reading the press this weekend, to discover that Belgium had, through Freddy Roosemont, Director General of the Immigration Office, taken part – on behalf of a group of around twenty European Union member states – in...
BELGIUM: Government’s negotiations with Taliban spark criticism ― Financial incentives to encourage returns to Syria ― NGOs concerned about conditions in migration detention centres ― Last asylum hotels closed despite ongoing concerns about shortage of reception places
Belgium has participated in talks with the Taliban in Afghanistan regarding the return of individuals with criminal records or lacking identity documents. The government is planning to increase the reintegration support that it provides to Syrians who return to their...
MEDITERRANEAN: Fall in number of recorded crossings and deaths in 2025 ― Court in Greece acquits humanitarians in ‘people smuggling’ trial ― Greek NGOs raise concerns about draft law on ‘NGO Registry’ ― Court in Malta awards compensation to teenager unlawfully detained in 2021 ― Maltese minister responds to parliamentary scrutiny on asylum data
There was an 11% decrease in the number of recorded irregular border crossings in the Mediterranean in 2025. There was a decrease in the number of people recorded as missing in the Mediterranean in 2025. A court on the Greek island of Lesvos has acquitted a group of...
Interview with Aleksejs Ivashuk from Apatride Network
How would you describe yourself and your organisation? Mostly composed of stateless or formerly stateless individuals. Apatride Network works on addressing the overlooked human rights issue of statelessness in the EU and beyond. It is one of the most impactful...
EU EXTERNAL PARTNERS: IOM signs agreement on voluntary returns with Algeria – NGO report highlights mass deportations from Algeria to Niger – EU releases €1 billion to Egypt amidst concerns –UN experts issue warning over refugee rights violations in Egypt – Mass grave and secret detention facility discovered in Libya
The International Organization for Migration has signed a partnership agreement with Algeria on voluntary returns. An NGO report has highlighted the mass deportation of people on the move by authorities in Algeria. The European Commission has disbursed €1...
In Memoriam: Richard Williams
ECRE is sorry to share the sad news of the death of our former EU Representative, Richard Williams, who passed away over Christmas. Richard led ECRE’s EU office between 2004 and 2007, during which time he played a crucial role in helping the organisation to establish...